Movement-cure apparatus



(No Model.)

W. F. WORTHMEYER; MOVEMENT GURE APPARATUS.

Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

msi

wire STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM F. YVOBIHDIEYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOVEMENT-CURE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 340,533, dated April 20, 1886. Application filed September 12, 1885. Serial No. 176,873. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. Worrrrr MEYER, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Movement-Cure Apparatus; and I do hereby declarethat-the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved manipulator or device for rubbing or kneading parts ofthe body, such as are used in the socalled Swedish-movement treatment for diseases.

A device embodying my invention consists, essentially,in a series of freely-rotating rollers hung upon radial pivots in a revolving frame in such manner that they may be applied to a part of the body to be operated upon, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of device, showinga flexible shaft as used to give mot-ion thereto. Fig. 2 is a side view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same, showingit as attached to a stationary driving-shaft.

In the said drawings, A is the rotating frame of the manipulator, and B B are a series of rotating conical rollers mounted at equal distances from the axis of rotation of the frame, and arranged radially with their smaller ends inwardly, and with their conical surfaces tangent to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the frame, so that said rollers will bear evenly upon a plane surface when applied thereto.

The manipulator, constructed as above described, may be actuated either by means of a flexible shaft, as indicated at 0, Figs. 1 and 2, or by attaching it to a stationary shaft, 0, as indicated in the sectional view, Fig. 3. In the latter case the device will be so located with reference to a seat or other support for the body or limbs thatthepart ofthe body to be treated may be conveniently brought into contact with the revolving rollers in the manner common in this use of the reciprocating rubbers or kneaders heretofore used in the Swedish-movement treatment. When the manipulator when thus actuated the entire body, thus avoiding the necessity ulator is attached to a flexible shaft, however, it may be moved about and applied at will to any part of the body, so that a single manipmay be used for for several differently -located manipulators for treating different parts of the body, such as are usually required when stationary driving-shafts are employed.

In the particular form of the device illustrated three rollers, B B B, are used, which are mounted in a frame consisting of a baseplate, A, a central post, A", sustaining the inner ends of the rollers, and arms or brackets A", supporting the outer ends of said rollers.

The bearings for the rollers may be made in any suitable way; but as herein shownthey consist of spindles a, passing through the rollers and secured at their inner ends in the end of the post A and held at their outer ends in the arms A.

To provide for removing the rollers,the said arms are desirably made detachable from the plate A, the spindles a being conveniently screw threaded upon their ends engaged with the post, and threaded and provided with nuts a upon their outer ends, exterior to the arms A.

The rollers B B may be made of wood, rubber, or any other material suitable for the purpose. Preferably they are made of soft rubber and provided with a metal bushing, b, as shown in Fig. 3.

For attaching the frame A to the flexible or other driving-shaft the plate A may be conveniently provided with an axially-arranged threaded stud, afladapted to enter the threaded aperture of a sockethead, 0, upon the end of the shaft 0 or C. When a flexible shaft, 0, is used, a suitable non rotating handle will be provided, (shown in Figs. 1 and 2in theform of a sleeve, 0 mounted upon a spindle, c, to one end of which is attached the socket c, and to the other end of which the flexible shaft is attached, a collar, 0, being provided upon the end of the spindle, which, together with the socket head 0, forms shoulders holding the sleeve from end motion.

In the case of a manipulator intended exclusively for use with a flexible shaft, the spindle 0 may be made integral with the plate A, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

A manipulator such asis above described I may be used in place of the devices heretofore employed for rubbing or kneading'parts of the body, and is found to give a kneading effect very beneficial in its effects, and more agreeable than the vibrating rubbers heretofore employed.

Itis to be understood that the broad features of my invention embrace a series of rollers of other than conical shape mounted upon axes which are arranged radially of the axis of rotation of theframe, whereby the said rollers may be applied to and will bear at one time upon a flat surface, and also that the invention may be carried out by the use of de vices for sustaining and actuating the conical rollers of other form than the particular features of construction in said ones herein shown, and my invention is not limited to the particular devices which are herein illustrated, except as the latter are herein specifically claimed.

I claim as my invention- 1. A manipulator comprising a rotating frame and a series of rollers mounted to rotate freely upon axes arranged radially with reference to the axis of rotation of the frame,

whereby all of said rollers may act together upon a plane surface, substantially as described.

2. A manipulator comprising .a rotating frame and a series of conical rollers mounted to rotate freely upon the frame, substantially as described.

3. A manipulator comprising a rotating frame and a series of conical rollers mounted upon the frame with their apices directed inwardly and their conical surfaces tangent to a plane perpendicular to the said axis. of rotation of the frame, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a series of conical rollers, of a frame provided with radiallyarranged pivots affording bearings for the rollers, and adapted for attachment to a driving-shaft, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with aserics of conical rollers, of a frame provided with pivots affording bearings for the rollers, and consisting of a plate constructed for attachment to a driving-shaft, and provided with a central post and exterior arms supporting the said u pivots, substantially as described.

In testimony that 'I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature ,in presence of two Witnesses.

XVILLIAM F. \VORTHMEYER. \Vitnesses:

C. CLARENCE PooLn, G. F. LANAGHEN. 

